Report on the verification of the performance of a testing strategy for the detection of wheat MON71800 event using real-time PCR

In response to a request of DG SANCO to provide National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) as soon as possible with a method to test soft white wheat consignments for the presence of unauthorised GM glyphosate-resistant wheat harbouring the event MON71800, the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) developed, in collaboration with the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL), a testing strategy intended to be immediately implementable by EU NRLs. The testing strategy is based on a combination of three validated screening methods that allow excluding (detectable) presence of Monsanto's GM glyphosate-resistant wheat (MON71800) in wheat grain or food/feed products and confirming its presence whenever other GMOs can be excluded. The present report describes the results of the tests carried out by the EU-RL GMFF to verify the testing strategy proposed; the tests were conducted using the positive control sample represented by a crude DNA lysate of MON71800 provided by Monsanto and genomic DNA samples of genetically modified organisms harbouring the CTP2-CP4epsps element for which a validated event-specific method is available.